Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 6 August 1999

54 articles found

Thousands of toddlers go hungry in Malang

Thousands of toddlers go hungry in Malang MALANG, East Java: At least 2,000 children here, mostly under five years old, are undernourished. Unless help comes as soon as possible, many of them may soon suffer from kwashiorkor marasmus -- severe malnutrition caused by a diet high in carbohydrates and...

Accountants skeptical of Ghalib audit results

Accountants skeptical of Ghalib audit results JAKARTA (JP): Senior accountants said on Thursday they doubted if the audit report on former attorney general Andi M. Ghalib's bank accounts set for release soon would satisfy the public.

Poor procedures thwart rape cases prosecution

Poor procedures thwart rape cases prosecution JAKARTA (JP): Many rape cases in the country cannot be prosecuted due to the lack of standardized examination and documentation procedures which are admissible as evidence in court, experts said on Thursday.

Government to crack down on electronics smuggling

Government to crack down on electronics smuggling JAKARTA (JP): The government will crack down on electronics smuggling which has adversely affected the local industry, said Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan on Thursday.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Aug. 5, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 6,880.00 6,935.00 6,880.00 6,965.00Australian dollar 1 4,501.90 4,574.95 4,476.00 4,599.00Austrian schilling 1 536.22 545.22 - -Belgian franc 1 182.91 185.

Breach of Balinese laws threatens village ties

Breach of Balinese laws threatens village tiesBy Putu Wirata DENPASAR, Bali (JP): A decision made two years ago by residents of the custom Kesiman village remains fresh in their minds: they threatened to revoke the membership of then governor of Bali Ida Bagus Oka.

Indonesia officialy welcomed in Games village

Indonesia officialy welcomed in Games villageBy Primastuti Handayani and Ivy Susanti BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Host Brunei Darussalam welcomed the Indonesian contingent to the 20th Southeast Asian Games athletes village here on Thursday.

Habibie meets protests at home

Habibie meets protests at home UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Demonstrations by activists and local residents greeted President B.J. Habibie's visit to his birthplace and traditional political stronghold on Thursday.

Confrontation in Aceh

Confrontation in Aceh Is the government heading for a confrontation with the people of Aceh? It certainly looks that way if we put two and two together. The same day that a two-day general strike, called by dozens of non-governmental organizations, began in the troubled province on Wednesday, the...

KPU says no bias in interest group picks

KPU says no bias in interest group picks JAKARTA (JP): The widely criticized General Elections Commission (KPU) pledged to be fair and objective in its selection of 65 interest group representatives for the next People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Erosion threatens fishermen's homes

Erosion threatens fishermen's homes PADANG, West Sumatra: At least 800 families living along the Padang coast fear losing their houses due to abrasion in the past five years.High tides and storms hit the areas in the past two weeks, leading the local administration to attempt to evacuate them to...

Groups want East Timor voter registration extended further

Groups want East Timor voter registration extended further JAKARTA (JP): An East Timorese and an international group have called for a further extension of the province's ballot registration period, which has already been stretched by the United Nations.

Australia gives $3.65m for Unicef's Indonesian programs

Australia gives $3.65m for Unicef's Indonesian programs JAKARTA (JP): Australia announced on Thursday a contribution of US$3.65 million to support the activities of the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) in Indonesia.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on August 5, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 500 0 85,500 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 300 0 0 Alter Abadi 300 -25 60,000 Alumindo...

Team to investigate Irian Jaya rights abuses

Team to investigate Irian Jaya rights abuses JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): An independent team to investigate human rights abuses in Irian Jaya will be set up by the National Commission on Human Rights, members said here on Thursday.

Uncover all bank scams

Uncover all bank scams Following the widely debated Bank Bali scandal in the media, concerning allegations of the practice of "money politics" involving an amount of Rp 550 billion, I thank God that we still have a good Indonesian citizen, by the name of Pradjoto, an expert in banking law, who is...

Campus autonomy: What does it mean?

Campus autonomy: What does it mean?By Nirwan Idrus This is the first of two articles exploring the meaning of campus autonomy. JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono recently announced the granting of autonomy to four leading state universities in Indonesia: the University...

Bumiputera John Hancock records 40% growth

Bumiputera John Hancock records 40% growth JAKARTA (JP): PT Asuransi Jiwa Bumiputera John Hancock announced on Thursday a 40 percent increase in premium income to Rp 14 billion (US$2 million) in the first half of 1999, with the largest growth derived from individual insurance.

Thank you, Indonesia

Thank you, Indonesia Thank you for the great article about our voyage Famous Brazilian yachting family sails into Indonesia (The Jakarta Post, July 25, 1999). We are now leaving Indonesia and would like if possible to thank the people of Indonesia for their hospitality through your newspaper.

Government mulls new tax breaks to lure foreign investors

Government mulls new tax breaks to lure foreign investors JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Investment/Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Marzuki Usman said on Thursday his office was considering devising a more attractive tax incentive package to woo foreign investors back to the...

Activists to report plight of Acehnese to UN convention

Activists to report plight of Acehnese to UN convention JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian human rights activists pledged on Thursday to bring the plight of the Acehnese to a United Nations convention in Geneva this month, in an attempt to attract international intervention and an eventual military pullout...

Riau residents told to don masks as haze worsens

Riau residents told to don masks as haze worsens JAKARTA (JP): The haze shrouding parts of Riau continued to thicken on Thursday, with authorities urging residents to wear protective masks and limit outdoor activity in order to reduce health risks.

Ciamis regent buys luxury car

Ciamis regent buys luxury car CIAMIS, West Java: The local administration recently decided to furnish Regent H. Oma Sasmita Sumardi with a luxury car, a Toyota Land Cruiser, worth Rp 500 million (US$71,428), Antara said.

Probe into PDI HQ attack continues

Probe into PDI HQ attack continues JAKARTA (JP): City police are scheduled to summons witnesses in connection with an investigation into the bloody takeover of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) headquarters on July 27, 1996, an officer said on Thursday.

Canadian company announces gas find in South Sumatra

Canadian company announces gas find in South Sumatra CALGARY, Canada (Dow Jones): Gulf Indonesia Resources Ltd. said it and its partners encountered "record gas flow" from the second test of the Durian Mabok 2 well in South Sumatra, Indonesia.

Councilors resort to fisticuffs

Councilors resort to fisticuffs BANDUNG: The inauguration of council members in Bandung descended into a fistfight on Wednesday when a legislator interrupted the session and derided two other councilors as no longer belonging to his faction.

Five kidnapped in Philippines

Five kidnapped in Philippines GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines (AP): A doctor, his brother and three others traveling with them in a truck were kidnapped in the southern Philippines, police said on Thursday.Authorities and relatives of Dr.

Shaman confirm Soeharto link

Shaman confirm Soeharto link JAKARTA (JP): In O.G. Roeder's The Smiling General, the author wrote that Soeharto once obeyed his trusted shaman in spending the night of Sept. 30, 1965, "worshiping God at a place where the waters meet".

Court starts hearing RCTI employees' lawsuit

Court starts hearing RCTI employees' lawsuit JAKARTA (JP): The first hearing session of a legal battle between the management of private television station RCTI and its employees started at the West Jakarta District Court on Thursday.

Kobatama season due to start late August

Kobatama season due to start late August JAKARTA (JP): The National basketball league (Kobatama) will tip off its season on Aug. 31, with games scheduled to run until Dec. 5, organizers said."This year there are more Kobatama matches than last year...

Students protest tuition hike

Students protest tuition hike BOGOR, West Java: About 2,000 PGRI 4 high school students staged a protest on Thursday, demanding the monthly school fee be decreased from Rp 36,000 (US$5.30) to Rp 30,000.

Tempo Scan ready for Y2K

Tempo Scan ready for Y2K JAKARTA (JP): Pharmaceutical and distribution firm Tempo Scan Pacific (TPS) announced on Thursday it has completed its Y2K compliance program and is ready to face possible millennium bug problems.

The endless game of political gladiators

The endless game of political gladiatorsBy Yulius P. Hermawan BANDUNG (JP): As predicted, none of the competing parties emerged as a majority in both the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the House of Representatives (DPR).

Consultants to help restructure state firms

Consultants to help restructure state firms JAKARTA (JP): The government has named six foreign consultants to assist in the consolidation of the 159 state-owned companies into 10 holding companies, a senior government official said on Thursday.

'Impian Nyangun' teaches kids preserve nature

'Impian Nyangun' teaches kids preserve natureBy Tam Notosusanto JAKARTA (JP): Nyangun doesn't want much. All the boy wants to do is dance with Berry, a jovial bear who resides in a nearby forest. Basically he wants to be friends with all the forest's inhabitants.

Police find illegal firearms in Riau

Police find illegal firearms in Riau BATAM, Riau: East Riau Police apprehended five owners of firearms and seized nine weapons and 26 bullets in Tanjung Pinang, Antara reported on Thursday."The nine assembled guns and their bullets probably came from Sambas in West Kalimantan," East Riau Police...

Who supports Megawati?

Who supports Megawati? Some press reports have recently attracted my attention, "The people want Megawati as president. The main target at the House of Representatives (DPR) is to make Megawati president.

Councilor calls for end to 'tips' for BPKP auditors

Councilor calls for end to 'tips' for BPKP auditors JAKARTA (JP): A veteran city councilor said on Thursday most of the 60 city-owned firms had given hundreds of millions of rupiah to auditors from the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) as "incentives".

BMW picks Thai plant as regional launching pad

BMW picks Thai plant as regional launching pad BANGKOK (AP): Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, or BMW, will start rolling sedans off the production lines at a new plant in Thailand early next year, hoping to capitalize on a nascent economic recovery, the company said Wednesday.

Is Sjahril compromised?

Is Sjahril compromised? We still don't want to believe that Bank Indonesia's Governor Sjahril Sabirin could be politically pressured to compromise his legal opinion on such an important issue as the alleged Rp 550 billion (US$80 million) pillage of Bank Bali.

WTC joins Osaka meeting

WTC joins Osaka meeting JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta World Trade Center will send a trade delegation of 30 people to attend the 30th annual general assembly of the World Trade Center Association in Osaka, Japan, from Oct. 18 to Oct. 21.

Indonesian education system needs total reform: Minister

Indonesian education system needs total reform: MinisterBy Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Eighteen months may not be enough time for Indonesia's minister of education and culture to unravel immense problems facing the country's education world.

Asian oil prices up with lower U.S. stocks

Asian oil prices up with lower U.S. stocks SINGAPORE (Reuters): Crude prices in Asia on Thursday were supported after recent U.S oil industry data showed lower crude and gasoline stocks.September New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) crudes on the after-hours ACCESS system in Asia were last trading...

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Two Hours Only 8:00 Children's Program 9:00 Music 10:00 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Student's Quiz 3:00 Soccer: Indonesia vs Singapore (live) 5:00 Student's Quiz 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama...

Seven thieves shot in C. Java

Seven thieves shot in C. Java PURWOKERTO, Central Java: A group of seven alleged vehicle thieves were shot in a raid on Monday, Banyumas Police chief Col. Isnandar said.Police seized 39 motorbikes and four cars in a 10-day operation in Cilacap and Purwokerto.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Painting, Instalation Art Exhibition: by Diyanto, at Galeri Milenium, Blok B-23, Jl. R.S. Fatmawati No. 15, South Jakarta (Phone: 7507828), 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Aug.16.

Ten more killed in troubled Aceh

Ten more killed in troubled Aceh JAKARTA (JP): Troops shot dead at least nine suspected rebels in Aceh on Thursday during the second day of a mass strike protesting military violence in the troubled province, a local military commander and witnesses said.Pidie Military Commander Lt. Col.

Attorney general to submit Soeharto report next month

Attorney general to submit Soeharto report next month JAKARTA (JP): Acting Attorney General Ismudjoko said on Thursday his office would submit the final report on its probe on the corruption, collusion and nepotism allegations against Soeharto to President B.J. Habibie by the end of September.

Puring flea market still under dispute

Puring flea market still under dispute JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta mayoralty office is yet to settle a dispute with traders of the popular 27-year-old Taman Puring flea market, following a planned demolition of the shops, an official said on Thursday.

Pradjoto vows to fight IBRA irregularities

Pradjoto vows to fight IBRA irregularities JAKARTA (JP): Legal banking expert Pradjoto vowed on Thursday to continue his crusade against irregularities at the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) despite threats made to his life.

Police arrest three with 63,000 sedative pills

Police arrest three with 63,000 sedative pills JAKARTA (JP): Police confiscated on Wednesday over 63,000 sedative pills from three people, one of them a mother of six children, in a raid in Central Jakarta, an officer said on Thursday.City police detectives chief Col.

Locusts loom in Sumba

Locusts loom in Sumba YOGYAKARTA: Sumba Island in East Nusa Tenggara will probably be hit by a plague of locusts in the next three months, a researcher from the Yogyakarta-based Gajah Mada University said on Wednesday.

Tekom-1 launch set on Aug.12

Tekom-1 launch set on Aug.12 PARIS (AFP): The launch of a European Ariane rocket carrying an Indonesian telecommunications satellite has been rescheduled to Aug. 12 following an electrical hitch in one of the rocket's engines, French space officials said Thursday.

Megawati's speech draws a fine line

Megawati's speech draws a fine line Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the victorious Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), finally broke her silence last Thursday. Political observer Wimar Witoelar analyzes the impact of her speech.